He added: "You know very well the potential of the other teams but it is important for us to look at ourselves.

"This season will be difficult but also we have to understand we have to try to build something important for the future, to give the opportunity to the new players to have more experience in this league, to give the opportunity to young players to show they deserve to stay and play for Chelsea.

"We must have patience this season to understand it won't be easy."

Michy Batshuayi started in the absence of Alvaro Morata and failed to impress, before reacting angrily to being withdrawn just after the break.

Conte insists he did not see Batshuayi's reaction, but said that such behaviour is to be expected if a player has a "bad performance".

"I didn't see this [reaction]," Conte added. "But it is normal to be angry after a bad performance – but every player had a bad performance.

"I trust in every player and try to give everyone the opportunity to take the chance. But also because we have Morata and then Batshuayi.